Second Dog Advice/Tips?
- Thread starter Equinox
- Start date
I don't have a whole lot of advice... I can't remember a time when I only had one dog. lol.
Just a couple of ideas to build on... My introductions with dogs (whether they're adults coming in or puppies) always go better if we can crate and rotate in the house for a few days first, or take a long car ride (dogs crated) together. They get used to them being there so that they aren't so surprised at an intro. Recon rode home for 5 hours from our seminar last weekend with the new gal in the car, which I think is why he likes her so much. He got acclimated before being thrown into the fire, so he knew who she was and what to expect. (and "knew" she wasn't going to hurt him - positive experience anyway) Last foster I brought in and tried introducing in the yard and he never got along with her.
I tend to advise against baby gates for breeds and drive levels like ours, just because guarding, barrier frustration, and jumping them is very common. It would be the equivalent of putting shelter dogs on two sides of a fence and letting them run. It's frustrating and builds tension that escalates SO easily. I would rather prefer crating in separate rooms for a few days, then two people leash walking them (if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself... I do with prongs) together, then getting to sniff side by side while walking, brief pauses and then continuing on... then tether in the house. I would work on a strong "place" command with him now, and tether her. Tethering him means if you need to get to her for something (counter surfing, accidents, chewing on something) that he has to go to her as well and could overwhelm the situation if they need some space. Also, if he's already a little territorial, you don't want to give him more value for you and have him guard you from her. Tether her so that you can keep an eye on her and tell him to go to his spot, where you can give him a high value treat and keep her much further away to prevent any skepticism on his part.
Good luck! I should be getting my shirt soon, I am excited!
Just a couple of ideas to build on... My introductions with dogs (whether they're adults coming in or puppies) always go better if we can crate and rotate in the house for a few days first, or take a long car ride (dogs crated) together. They get used to them being there so that they aren't so surprised at an intro. Recon rode home for 5 hours from our seminar last weekend with the new gal in the car, which I think is why he likes her so much. He got acclimated before being thrown into the fire, so he knew who she was and what to expect. (and "knew" she wasn't going to hurt him - positive experience anyway) Last foster I brought in and tried introducing in the yard and he never got along with her.
I tend to advise against baby gates for breeds and drive levels like ours, just because guarding, barrier frustration, and jumping them is very common. It would be the equivalent of putting shelter dogs on two sides of a fence and letting them run. It's frustrating and builds tension that escalates SO easily. I would rather prefer crating in separate rooms for a few days, then two people leash walking them (if you aren't comfortable doing it yourself... I do with prongs) together, then getting to sniff side by side while walking, brief pauses and then continuing on... then tether in the house. I would work on a strong "place" command with him now, and tether her. Tethering him means if you need to get to her for something (counter surfing, accidents, chewing on something) that he has to go to her as well and could overwhelm the situation if they need some space. Also, if he's already a little territorial, you don't want to give him more value for you and have him guard you from her. Tether her so that you can keep an eye on her and tell him to go to his spot, where you can give him a high value treat and keep her much further away to prevent any skepticism on his part.
Good luck! I should be getting my shirt soon, I am excited!
Ditto everything everyone else has said!
With emphasis on Shutdown Protocol. Consider their frustrations. Some dogs consider it way more frustrating to meet on lead, some off lead. Some want to be in charge of the introduction and want to be free while the other is on lead. Some dogs feel too confined if on lead and the other is off.
One on one time with you is ALWAYS important. Not just initially, but sort of forever. Even to this day, I can't "share" time with Quinn and Zander. They interact fine together but during training or play times, it is just too much chaos for everyone. Good rule of thumb: Only expect as much attention as you are capable of giving. If you can only give 50% at any given time, expect 50% of their attention to also be elsewhere and anywhere.
Don't stress about how things will go initially. Just take it as it comes, and treat it like no big deal. No pressure. Zander flat out ignored Quinn for months, and they are fine now. Fiona FLIPPED when she first met Zander, and now they are super affectionate and cuddly with each other. Faith continued sleeping in her spot, and she still does that except when he tries to play with Quinn. Zander isn't allowed to play when Faith is around. All in all, you can't predict, and there is no point in dealing with something unless it is in front of your face at that moment.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!
With emphasis on Shutdown Protocol. Consider their frustrations. Some dogs consider it way more frustrating to meet on lead, some off lead. Some want to be in charge of the introduction and want to be free while the other is on lead. Some dogs feel too confined if on lead and the other is off.
One on one time with you is ALWAYS important. Not just initially, but sort of forever. Even to this day, I can't "share" time with Quinn and Zander. They interact fine together but during training or play times, it is just too much chaos for everyone. Good rule of thumb: Only expect as much attention as you are capable of giving. If you can only give 50% at any given time, expect 50% of their attention to also be elsewhere and anywhere.
Don't stress about how things will go initially. Just take it as it comes, and treat it like no big deal. No pressure. Zander flat out ignored Quinn for months, and they are fine now. Fiona FLIPPED when she first met Zander, and now they are super affectionate and cuddly with each other. Faith continued sleeping in her spot, and she still does that except when he tries to play with Quinn. Zander isn't allowed to play when Faith is around. All in all, you can't predict, and there is no point in dealing with something unless it is in front of your face at that moment.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!
Thanks so much guys for all the awesome advice, and the congrats!!! Really glad I made this thread, because I can already tell that I would've made more than a couple of mistakes. Not off to a great start, but now I'm better prepared
I think the car ride idea (while crated) is a really good one! I'm going to do that for sure - car rides make Trent incredibly happy, so there will definitely be a big positive association there.
The baby gate would have only been for keeping Trent out of the spare room if new girl is crated in there (or vice versa). I don't want a closed door because I want to know if something's going on, but I also don't want him harassing the crate! He respects the gate very well, but I definitely don't trust a 3 ft. tall gate all that much.
Okay and yeah, definitely shouldn't and won't be tethering Trent to me LOL Not sure why I thought that'd be a good idea!! And luckily his place mat is his raw bone eating mat, and I've already bought a bunch of knuckle bones in preparation.
Read the article on Shutdown Protocol, will do my best to follow it! Really glad to have that to refer to and will remind myself to stick to it. Probably a good excuse to work on the calming protocol stuff with Trent again with how overwhelming he can be
Awesome!!! Thanks so much, I'm having so much fun browsing Etsy. Definitely loving their tags.
I think the car ride idea (while crated) is a really good one! I'm going to do that for sure - car rides make Trent incredibly happy, so there will definitely be a big positive association there.
The baby gate would have only been for keeping Trent out of the spare room if new girl is crated in there (or vice versa). I don't want a closed door because I want to know if something's going on, but I also don't want him harassing the crate! He respects the gate very well, but I definitely don't trust a 3 ft. tall gate all that much.
Okay and yeah, definitely shouldn't and won't be tethering Trent to me LOL Not sure why I thought that'd be a good idea!! And luckily his place mat is his raw bone eating mat, and I've already bought a bunch of knuckle bones in preparation.
Read the article on Shutdown Protocol, will do my best to follow it! Really glad to have that to refer to and will remind myself to stick to it. Probably a good excuse to work on the calming protocol stuff with Trent again with how overwhelming he can be
Awesome!!! Thanks so much, I'm having so much fun browsing Etsy. Definitely loving their tags.
Fantastic idea. I don't know if you mentioned it and I read too fast and missed that this is what you were doing or not, but the fact that you knew to keep him from harassing her in the crate means you're not going to make a stupid move with barrier aggression/tense meetings.
You got this.
You got this.
Fingers crossed we can swing a Saturday flight!! Depends a bit on the weather but might be able to make it work!
I love the 2 week shut down for bringing in new adult dogs into our house.
It also gives you a chance to know her and gives her plenty of time to acclimate to your house and bond with you.
Having her and Trent meet and co-exist together would be way down the list on my list of things to do.
Best of luck!
It also gives you a chance to know her and gives her plenty of time to acclimate to your house and bond with you.
Having her and Trent meet and co-exist together would be way down the list on my list of things to do.
Best of luck!
I did this with Harrison, even though it wasn't strictly necessary. He rode from Iowa to Georgia, several nights loose in a hotel room with Indy and I, and everything went fine, though we were spending 8+ hours in the car, and they sort of HAD to get along. Luckily, it was love at first sight for both of them.
I started the shutdown protocol when we got back into Georgia, because up until that point, he was bonding with me, used to being with me CONSTANTLY, as well as having Indy available all the time. I did not want him to develop SA with either of us, so he spent a lot of time relaxing in his crate, being hand fed meals, and being walked on a long line in the yard with Indy and without Indy. We took a lot of long walks with him dragging a line as well, and allowing him and Indy to somewhat run freely together.
Now they're chewing opposites ends of a nylabone just fine lol. They share the bed with me, and they just *get* each others play style much better than the other two dogs understand them. Neither one of them gets pissed off if someone is loud or obnoxious or growly, which pisses Oz off, and makes Enzo quit playing.
You totally have this!!!
I started the shutdown protocol when we got back into Georgia, because up until that point, he was bonding with me, used to being with me CONSTANTLY, as well as having Indy available all the time. I did not want him to develop SA with either of us, so he spent a lot of time relaxing in his crate, being hand fed meals, and being walked on a long line in the yard with Indy and without Indy. We took a lot of long walks with him dragging a line as well, and allowing him and Indy to somewhat run freely together.
Now they're chewing opposites ends of a nylabone just fine lol. They share the bed with me, and they just *get* each others play style much better than the other two dogs understand them. Neither one of them gets pissed off if someone is loud or obnoxious or growly, which pisses Oz off, and makes Enzo quit playing.
You totally have this!!!
As you know, we have a combined household of 4 intact GSDs and two "other breeds" that are fixed. 3 intact males bred for Schutzund and an intact female for same...aka strong temperaments.
I have found Limit does best OFF leash with the new dog on leash so that he can escape when needed. Otherwise, with all the GSDs we did a lot of crating near each other, and on and off leash time while we each kept our dogs engaged. I realize that will be harder for you since they will both be your dogs. But, if you have a friend that can walk with you or something, that makes things easier.
I like the 2 week shutdown.
Don't baby Trent if he's being a dick (same with the new girl, no matter if she's new). Lay down the rules right off the bat and stick with them. If they're both strong tempered, confident, pushy dogs (like mine), then being sweet with them in terms of rules will just cause confusion. We are extremely strict and very very clear with expectations.
Some examples of rules in our house that lets them live happily together:
No stealing toys from others. Whoever has it first, gets to keep it until they leave it alone.
No posturing, period.
Anyone that starts anything, gets punished, immediately. For a time Kas would start crap with Lim and then they'd both go at it - they were both punished. Now when one gets over-stimulated, they look for other ways to release the pressure rather than reacting to each other.
No pushing me, no rushing me to the door, no slamming each other around trying to get in/out/or through doors.
No neck biting in play. Bones LOVES to do this, Jentry doesn't mind it - it sends Limit and Kastle off the deep end, he's discouraged from doing it.
Everyone gets left alone while pottying (sounds silly but dang can other dogs be rude when one is trying to go potty - especially with boy/girl dynamics).
The male GSDs have STELLAR down commands. If things are getting too rowdy (we potty all of them loose together and when we first get home from work that means a lot of excitement), we yell PLATZ and the three boy GSDs will drop, usually Limit will recall - and then we can get a handle on the two naughty girls.
I 100% agree with what Danielle said about gates..and be aware, doorways or toys/beds tucked in corners may be looked at the same way. As guardable.
I adore having multiples, can't imagine life without it. So fun. Always someone to do things with - no matter what it is I want to do. I also enjoy "teaching" a dog something by using another dog to show it. Lots of fun.
I have found Limit does best OFF leash with the new dog on leash so that he can escape when needed. Otherwise, with all the GSDs we did a lot of crating near each other, and on and off leash time while we each kept our dogs engaged. I realize that will be harder for you since they will both be your dogs. But, if you have a friend that can walk with you or something, that makes things easier.
I like the 2 week shutdown.
Don't baby Trent if he's being a dick (same with the new girl, no matter if she's new). Lay down the rules right off the bat and stick with them. If they're both strong tempered, confident, pushy dogs (like mine), then being sweet with them in terms of rules will just cause confusion. We are extremely strict and very very clear with expectations.
Some examples of rules in our house that lets them live happily together:
No stealing toys from others. Whoever has it first, gets to keep it until they leave it alone.
No posturing, period.
Anyone that starts anything, gets punished, immediately. For a time Kas would start crap with Lim and then they'd both go at it - they were both punished. Now when one gets over-stimulated, they look for other ways to release the pressure rather than reacting to each other.
No pushing me, no rushing me to the door, no slamming each other around trying to get in/out/or through doors.
No neck biting in play. Bones LOVES to do this, Jentry doesn't mind it - it sends Limit and Kastle off the deep end, he's discouraged from doing it.
Everyone gets left alone while pottying (sounds silly but dang can other dogs be rude when one is trying to go potty - especially with boy/girl dynamics).
The male GSDs have STELLAR down commands. If things are getting too rowdy (we potty all of them loose together and when we first get home from work that means a lot of excitement), we yell PLATZ and the three boy GSDs will drop, usually Limit will recall - and then we can get a handle on the two naughty girls.
I 100% agree with what Danielle said about gates..and be aware, doorways or toys/beds tucked in corners may be looked at the same way. As guardable.
I adore having multiples, can't imagine life without it. So fun. Always someone to do things with - no matter what it is I want to do. I also enjoy "teaching" a dog something by using another dog to show it. Lots of fun.